Saturday 18 October 2014

10 Reasons NOT to date a girl who teaches

This post entitled "Date a Girl Who Teaches" has popped up in my Facebook news feed a few times this weekend. So I've decided to have a look at the opposite point of view. Here are my reasons not to date a girl who teaches (in no particular order)!

1. "Sunday Sads:" Anyone who knows a teacher, knows the pain of last-minute Sunday planning. She will question, "Why did I not start sooner?" Your job is to listen to her hysterical ranting and leave her to do her planning in peace!

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2. Holidays galore: If you have a "normal" job then you'll have to put up with the other extreme of when she's on holidays, completely relaxed and you've still got to work. If she ever mentions not having enough time off, do not, I repeat, do NOT, under any circumstances mention the amount of holidays she has! It won't end well.

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3. Friday nights: Once your girl manages to crawl home after school on Friday, completely devoid of any energy, she will do one of the following: 1. Be sensible and have a nap then enjoy a Friday night with you or 2. Kid herself into thinking she has an energy reserve that the children haven't tapped into and end up falling asleep on you as you watch a movie or going out and yawning her way through the night.

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4. You'll be subjected to children's songs: Every now and then, a song that she has been teaching the children will get stuck in her head and you will hear it on repeat for the weekend. There is no known cure for this phenomenon. Just try not to let it get to you too!

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5. Romantic shopping trips won't happen: So you two want to have a nice stroll through the streets and do a bit of window shopping? Take heed. Anywhere that sells stationery or craft materials, discount stores and bookshops may lead to the loss of your girlfriend for several hours.

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6. You can't throw anything away: Teachers tend to be hoarders. You might think you're doing some good in the world by putting that cardboard roll in the recycling bin. But your girlfriend doesn't see it as just a mere cardboard roll. To her it's a Halloween decoration, a flower, an angel, a car, a fish.... Living with a teacher often means keeping several piles of rubbish for months on end.
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7. You may become her personal cutting and laminating service: Don't reveal your skills with a scissors. This may result in spending your weekend cutting things out, laminating them and, wait for it, CUTTING THEM OUT AGAIN! 

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8. She will never admit to being sick: This will drive you mad! Teachers suffer from the exact opposite of manflu. Sneezing every 3 seconds? Nah! It's nothing! 

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9: People will ask you how many kids you have: as she refers to her class as "my kids" even in social situations.

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10. She might suddenly get jumpy and drag you away when she sees one of her students out and about. 

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135 comments:

  1. Yep, I do every single one of these :D

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  2. True! True! True!

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  3. just described my daughter and her bessy mate to a tee :-))

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  4. All definitely true!! But I wouldn't say they're valid reasons to not date someone.

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  5. This is pathetic. Teachers think they're God's gift. I'd love to see them collecting the bins or laying bricks. A years work in 10 months my arse

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    1. And what would you know?

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    2. And what would you know?

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    3. Someone had a bad time at school...

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    4. Give it a go of it's that easy... Money where your mouth is and all that...

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    5. Teaching: the only job with a day shift and a night shift every day

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    6. You clearly don't know one fool. My wife works 8-22.00 Mon-Fri and about 6 hours Sunday!

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    7. Teachers are god's Gift - get over it!

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    8. Everyone makes choices, sounds like you regret some of yours!

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    9. Funny how everyone who isn't a teacher wants to be a one in August and no one wants to be one in November! (Speaking as a teacher who has just retired .... thank God!..... after 41 years!

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    10. Yer right you don't know any teachers because if you did you wouldn't be speaking out of your Arse.

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    11. I think Anonymous is a little confused or a split personality.

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    12. You've no idea as you lay bricks.............. Brick laying does not involve inventiveness, psychology, articulation, comprehension, creativity, patients and dexterity. If you need to look these words up I suggest a dictionary.

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    13. "patients"!! Get your own dictionary

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    14. I don't think I'm God's gift to anyone. But I will do anything in my power to help get 'my kids' through their exams, which means starting with the best teaching and learning environment I can give them from year 7 all the way through school. I know I'm not alone in that or the fact that I'm currently averaging about 55 hours per week, or that I don't sit relaxing all way through my hols but can often be seen in school then. I'm not saying this because I want praise or thanks but just for to recognise this is for most of us a vocation, not just a job. And no, I can't lay bricks because nobody has ever TAUGHT me to do that.

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    15. Why does everyone bemoan teachers for their "short working day" and "long holidays"? When you were at school did you not realise the teachers had the same holidays as you? Why didn't you become a teacher then? Anyone I've ever put this question to invariably answers - "I couldn't do your job, I wouldn't have the patience". And that answer doesn't even come close to the reality of the emotional, psychological and social commitment it takes to be a teacher. I've laid bricks for a living and I now teach for a living. I know which has the greater impact upon the world we live in.

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    16. That's OK. We know that not everyone can understand.....

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    17. I worked twenty years in industry before going into teaching for another twenty years.
      I can assure anonymous that as a teacher I worked three times as hard.
      Why don't you retrain and teach yourself if you think it's such a soft option?

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    18. Two rules of the internet:
      1. Please don't feed a troll.
      2. Don't read the bottom half of the internet.

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    19. Clearly you weren't educated enough to see or benefit from how hard teachers work. I would happily clear bins or lay bricks but I like to do a job that impacts people's lives. It's our choice but don't appreciate the ignorance of people like yourself that truly have no idea!!

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    20. Done both teaching and collecting bins. Throw in welding too. Never thought of being God's gift. Teaching is exhausting and getting harder. I suggest you have ago before you make inexperienced comments. Like many teachers, I am looking for a career change. If it really is so great, would I be doing that?

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    21. Yes!!! We are!!! U already didnt know that?? Go back to school.. Haha

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    22. If it weren't for a teacher you would not have been able to read this post and respond with that ignorant comment. I may not collect bins and lay bricks, however you have not been in a classroom and taught children...hmmmm

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    23. Wow another brickie who thinks they know everything but didn't pass the hard subjects at high school. HOW ORIGINAL.

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    24. I think if you asked around, teachers could turn their hand at anything. And I wouldn't be surprised to find that YES they probably have laid the odd brick and emptied a bin or two.

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    25. I worked for many years before I became a teacher including manual work...and teaching is by far the most tiring, stressful and soul destroying job their is. Don't ever compare it to emptying bins or working shifts...its very different. Ps I was off with stress for 2 months and I know loads of teachers who have also been off with stress with many of them leaving the job for good

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    26. Trade your day for theirs , they usually start 7.30 am and by the time you are in bed they are still working

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    27. I am not a teacher but I AM a mother and without the valuable work and commitment of these professionals what chances in todays world would our children have ! not all teachers are perfect some far from it but like nursing its a vocation not just a job anybody can do soooo me as a mum I say give them the credit they deserve .

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    28. We'd like to see you teach 25 6 year olds to read, problem solve in math, write a story when they don't even know how to write letters yet, social studies, science, health, and collaborate with each other to achieve all of this. Laying bricks and collecting bins would be a piece of cake buddy! Oh and btw eat your lunch and go to the bathroom in 20 minutes. That's the only break you get during the day. Also be prepared that someone will probably stop in at any given time to make sure you are doing all of these things correctly and record it on a record that follows you wherever you go. Get a life brick layer.

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    29. To be fair anonymous (too spineless to put your name?) I would actually be earning more if I had just left school and got work as a bin man - and I wouldn't be 30k in debt from uni either...I've thought about it after a bad week or two, trust me.

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    30. I am a male who teaches kindergarten and find myself subject to many of these same afflictions! With that said, I have also framed houses, and worked other jobs this poster describes. Being a teacher never ends. If you aren't teaching you are thinking of things to help you teach. Bless our partners who put up with us and our weird needs!

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    31. It is not that they THINK they are GOD's Gift.............They are GOD's Gift. The bricks they lay may be the doctors that save you in an emergency room. So you glue together bricks......they help millions of kids learn to glue, too. Is that where you learned about sticking things together??? lol

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    32. You are wrong that teachers think they are GOD's gift. Teachers ARE GOD's Gift! I value so much the morals, lessons and thinking patterns they gave me. Your brick does nothing to help others be who they can be. Did you learn to glue bricks together when you were in elementary school......I learned to stick a lot of things together. I am not a teacher, but wish I had been. I have had some wonderful professional positions and even own my own company. Your brick would not have helped me get there....but my Teacher's did! Thank you Teachers!!!! You are more appreciated than you know...

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    33. Spent over thirty years teaching. Physical labor is MUCH easier than teaching!

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    34. That was a joke. However, my daughter is an elementary school teacher and she has a husband and three children. She grades papers at night and on the weekend in addition to helping kids with homework, running them to soccer/basketball practices and games, and seeing that they are fed. The school year usually finishes around mid-June; then she spends a lot of time in her classroom in July getting it ready for the next group of kids and school starts the first week of August. So she has maybe two/three weeks off in the summer. She also (as do all teachers) purchases a lot of school supplies with her own money as they never get enough money for everything they need. TEACHING is NOT an 8 - 5 job; it is much more than that and they do it because they love children and are dedicated. It certainly is not for the money.

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    35. Teaching is a hell of a lot harder than manual labor. Also, I want you to stop and take what I'm about to say into consideration. A teacher doesn't have just one job like most people. They have 5 jobs. A teacher must also be a therapist, a policewoman/policeman, a nurse and a custodian.

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    36. your a full blown smoker mate

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    37. Teachers work to a contract like everyone else. Teachers are contracted to work for 1265 hrs over 195 days in a year and thats all they get paid for, name me any other worker who then works 20+hrs a week for free on top of that to make a poorly funded and understaffed and under resourced system work! if it wasn't for them you wouldnt be able to write a reply to this would you , or fill a form in or use a computer or work out your taxes or understand your payslip nough said I think. Colin Agnew

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    38. having been a teacher, I swapped to factory work, nightshift work, washing oranges at midnight, pallet packing, working with people under arrest, shifting lost property and working in with people who misuse substances - all are easier and less stressful than teaching. Teaching is like trying to herd cats and teach them all at the same time. I never had less time than when I was a teacher

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    39. Do not make blanket judgements about people you don't know. I have sorted ballast, picked up dog pop, delivered catalogues, weed spraying, cut firewood and driven a feed truck for a living before I became a teacher.

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  6. That's so acurate it's scary. :-)

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  7. The majority of teachers have not walked straight out of Uni into a job. Many of us have had other positions too, we all have bills. I have been a carer, a cleaner, in mechanics, abroad, in bars etc. I have worked 60+ hours weeks alternating from night, early and late shifts. I have worked double shifts, triple shifts. Teaching is the hardest most tiring job I have ever had! I look forward to a week off planning and preparing for the next half term. This couldn't be more accurate!

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  8. hilarious - because its true. and my kids are 18 and up!

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  9. Some bits were funny but to say we do a year's work in 10 months is offensive. And I would love to be a binman....ours only come once a fortnight!!

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    1. Wow.. how ignorant are you? The binmen may only come to your house once a fortnight but there are thousands of other houses too.. Teachers have no idea about the reality of how tough other professions are. I 100% agree that teaching is very tough but there are many other people out there working just as hard and doing extra hours during the week and weekends and they will only get max. 4 weeks off a year, not to mention if you want to have maybe a week at Christmas, you need to save days for this too..You are guaranteed 2 weeks at Christmas without fail - Your binman won't get this luxury!!

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    2. Teachers are not the ignorant people here. You never hear teachers criticising other professions. Teachers have empathy and can see the hard work others do but the teaching profession is not given this respect from vast amounts of people, so teachers find themselves having to argue and justify themselves.

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    3. "You never hear teachers criticising other professions." - Well VikkiH46 uses the word 'we' when referring to teachers, so it can be deduced that she is a teacher. Vikki then goes on to criticise binmen by suggesting that they "...only come once a fortnight". So, what's it to be? Do teachers criticise or don't they? Make up your mind...

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    4. I think VikkiH46 was possibly being sarcastic with her once a fortnight comment!

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    5. Clearly a joke for goodness sake

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    6. Teachers are subjected to alot from kids and parents not many people go to work and are subjected to abuse and being punched by seven year olds and can't do a thing about it!!!!



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    7. There is a huge misconception here. Teachers do not get 2 months off a year. Teachers sign a contract and are paid by the number of days they work. We are not paid for the days we don't work. Most contracts offer to be paid once a month, however your salary is based on a 190 day contract. You get paid for 190 working days. We just choose to spread it out over the whole year. If we worked all year we would be paid more.

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    8. Teaching, one of the last bastions encircled by the brick wall of trade unionism. Come on, the pays not bad and you know it's a doddle! Teachers just think they have it tough. One of my best mates became a teacher fairly late in life after 16 years in commerce. You couldn't drag him away from his long holidays know for all the tea in China!

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    9. I worked in am automobile factory for 7 years and thought it was hard work until I began teaching. Now I know what hard work really is. I work more hours now than I ever did in a year at the factory and I get paid about half as much as I used to, so I get a second job in the summer to help make up for the difference in pay. That being said, I wouldn't trade mt long days and paper grading, lesson planning weekend for anything because of the rewards that cone along with seeing mt hard work pay off as my artifacts succeed, grow, and mature throughout the school year!

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  10. Knowledge is power.before you make judgements and assumptions about teachers and teaching find out the facts. Binmen once a fortnight!!so funny.

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  11. ..And i admire a skilled Bricklayer!!
    They build our homes&properties,Towns,villages,Pubs,etc....My Ex was a Bricklayer,he was very Creative&studied Art College.

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  12. Think teachers do a great job but one question that teachers i know can't answer is, why is it when we get an inch of snow the schools close because the teachers can't get into school,leaving all us parents that have got to work fine and on time struggling to sort child care for the day, Always puzzled me that one?????

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    1. Because teachers are so overworked and underpaid that they'll take any excuse for some time out? And I done blame them. These people are parents to 30 children 6 hours a day and then spend another 6 hours preparing/marking for the next.. Ad infinitum. These dedicated people are a massive reason you are proud of your children, I hope you are all grateful because you should be.

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    2. It's not the teacher's choice! More often than not, it's because you can't guarantee that all teaching staff will be able to get there by the time the children come in due to traffic moving slower in the snow etc, or having to make alternative travel arrangements. If you haven't got the right adult:pupil ratio at the beginning of the day, you can't have the children on site until you do have that ratio.

      Also, it's not up to the teachers, mostly headteachers and governors. And what do you think us teachers do with our own children when their schools are closed, and yet, as a teacher, you make the effort to go to your place of work?! We also struggle for childcare at times like this, we are not different to anyone else.

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    3. Health and safety dictates tha children should not be placed in unnecessary danger. It has nothing at all to do with a teacher's ability to drive through snow. Try thinking things through a little.

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    4. Yes, safety first!
      As far as I'm aware, if the caretaker reports that he/she can't keep the fire-exits clear, the head and governers will make the decision to close the school.

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    5. Sorry for the poor parents having to look after their own kids just because the teacher won't risk their life! Didn't realise a school was also a babysitting service

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    6. Our title is "Teachers" not "Babysitters"
      And teachers dont close schools because of snow......oh to have that power.

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    7. Im surprised you were able to get a job with that kind of reasoning...or are you generalizing? because then i can understand an ignorant non supporting comment like that.

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    8. OMG Are you people crazy? School is not closed when it snows because teachers can't get there. School is closed because most school districts do not want to run buses in bad weather. This is for the safety of your children. Enjoy some quality time with your kids on a snow day and quit complaining. Some schools require the teachers to come in on snow days. Quit bashing teachers!

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    9. This is very true! My district does not have bussing and as a result we very rarely have snow days. Last year when most schools had 15+ snow days, my district had 4. But ob the days that we had school and others didn't, err had less than 50% attendance because the parents choose not to send their children out inn the treacherous conditions. With half the kids gone, we can't even count it as a school day and could have to make it up at the end of the year still even thigh we were open.

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    10. ...because to put 100+ children on each bus on icy, dangerous roads is not in the best interest of the CHILDREN. That's why. I, personally, have had to work on snow days when children were not required to report to school.

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    11. Schools are closed for the safety of the children and the bus drivers - when I taught teachers were expected to come in for a work day when school was cancelled, and if we didn't feel safe driving in we had to take a vacation day

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    12. The buses won't run in stormy conditions. There is likely a new policy being implemented at my school soon where teachers will have to report to work even if there's no students. Do some research, or even rational thinking

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    13. Schools are closed in heavy snow because of the health and safety implications of opening an environment where over a thousand children can endanger themselves even given the best supervision in the world. My previous school made the decision to close because of heavy snow a couple of years ago after several bus-loads of students took over 5 hours to get home at the end of the previous day. Despite the gates being closed some children opted to climb over the gates to run around on the fresh snow at 7.30am (a time when they would have been unsupervised anyway even if the school had been open) and one of them fell and broke his arm. His parents had already contacted a solicitor and had contacted the school with the intention of suing for negligence as the snow had not been cleared away (despite the fact that the snow was still coming down) by lunchtime. In the face of our current "blame and claim" culture, why on Earth would any headteacher want to take that risk?

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  13. I love how those who have never taught have an opinion on what they 'think' it is like to be a teacher. I'm a teacher and I do not comment on binmen, hair dressers, nurses, accountants or any other profession because I do not do their job therefore I have no facts to back up what I say. It is very annoying when people assume we start and finish on time and have a lot of holidays to relax because that is not accurate, teachers complain because unnecessary additonal duties are expected of them that takes time away from doing what they love doing....teaching your children! I am happy to spend every evening and my sundays assessing, marking, laminating, planning and preparing outstanding lessons for your children to enjoy and be inspired by but this is not always possible. Unnecessary additional workload is now expected to take priority over the necessary workload and that is very sad! Everyone is entitled to their opinion but don't comment as though you 'know' exactly what is like to be a teacher unless you have been a teacher!!

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  14. Most of these so called teachers are aggressive, abusive and have a chip on their shoulder. Hope none of you are teaching my kids! If builder is a shit job compared to teaching I hope none of your pupils want to be builders as am sure you will say that's a rubbish job and only for the stupid children to aspire to! You're all so self absorbed. My kids achievements are as a result of their own efforts not yours!

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    1. Don't send them to school and let them continue to be self taught then.

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    2. Im pretty sure no teacher would ever tell any child that any job is a shit job. Your childs time in education is about far more than learning to read and write we teach them to have self worth and to be able to function in an ever changing world we strive to equip them with the skills they need to be able to tackle challenges and do their best in order to be able to achieve at WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO regardless of if they want to work in a supermarket, be a binman, builder, doctor, lawyer. I teach the children in my class the same lesson I teach my own children I will be proud of them whatever they do but I want them to be proud of themselves knowing they have tried their best and I want them to feel content and happy.

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    3. I hope you see the benefit of teachers one day. It seems to me that your children will be very bitter about their education should they keep listening to your negativity. Teaching is a true vocation. As in every profession, there are people who dont perform well in their role, these people are put through a stringent (if not a little too lengthy) discipline procedure. Your narrow minded comments are naive, unfounded and completely offensive. I hope that you work hard in your own job, whatever this may be... l would certainly never criticise you for your performance based on my own mere opinion and the possible underperformance of a some of your colleagues.

      Have a lovely life, but please try to fill your childrens heads with positive thought and respect for others, that is how they will best achieve.

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    4. Clearly a sad, ignorant and negative comment.
      Teach them yourself, rather than send them to
      "so called teachers", (and that's a peculiar comment in itself!)

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    5. Clearly a sad, ignorant and negative comment.
      Teach them yourself, rather than send them to
      "so called teachers", (and that's a peculiar comment in itself!)

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    6. Very childish : /

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    7. I hope I'm not teaching your child either. How sad that you would bash the people that spend more time with your children than you do. Do you really think teachers look down upon other professions? It's not like we're all loaded or something. What's your deal? Sounds like you are just a mad unhappy person.

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    8. And we are all relieved we don't teach your child, to have to put up with you. Hahaha I feel sorry for you lady, and your kid, and your child's teacher. What a nightmare hahah

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  15. I teach in a secondary school and in 6 years have only ever taken half a day off (when I had such bad flu that I passed out getting out of bed) as I know how stressful it would be for my colleagues to have to cover my lessons with their already ridiculous workloads. I teach Maths and appreciate the importance of every lesson for my students studying for GCSEs and A-levels. It would be a bit hypocritical of me to 'take any excuse for a bit of time out' when I am advising my students to do the exact opposite. When my school closes it is a decision made by the bus company as to whether they will run the school buses (it is a large secondary covering a fairly extensive rural area). Incidentally; I worked as a binman whilst at University and in the holidays through an agency. I can honestly say that it was the most enjoyable job I ever worked and I did it through an agency for the minimum wage. And before anyone says it I did it year round in pouring rain, snow and stifling heat. Now I work from 8 until 5 on a good day, pick up my children, feed them and get them to bed and continue to work until gone midnight most nights and am still behind on my work according to what the government and my head teacher seem to expect. And I'm 'lazy' according to people who have never done the job (or done it properly). I should like to put forward a suggestion to rebrand half term as 'Paperwork week'!

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  16. A lot less hatred in the world and a lot more love and respect would be nice. Don't gripe, don't be defensive, waste of time. Get as much out of your life as you can, enjoy every moment, treasure those around you. Life is short.

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  17. There are good and bad in all professions. There are people who work hard, and others who do as little as possible, in all professions. Live and let live. Make the most of the job you have, and be glad you have one

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  18. Teaching is a great profession, and done well can influence and inspire a few in a generation. However these types of teacher are few and far between. As for the time off thing, you have more than anybody in normal jobs. Plan your life right, get the work done early, and hey presto you'll be able to enjoy the ridiculous amount of time you have off (however i think this already happens. I just think so say you have marking or planning a term is more difficult than you think, to justify your wage and amount of time off) i personally hated school. Despised the majority of teachers as it was more a prison camp than learning centre, tarred with a brush even though i proved i wasn't the same as my classmates, even proving my IQ was higher than that of the teachers that labelled me a cocky jock. Goin on to complete higher education, though it took longer due to the small minded and childish teachers that "taught" at my school. That saying that school days were the best time of your life, and you'd do it all again...... I categorically would, my best times were after school.

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    1. "Plan your life right?" I will have you know that it would be a great disservice to my students if I were grading their papers whilst I was supposed to be teaching them just so I could "plan my life right" and avoid having to bring their assignments home with me to grade at night and on the weekends. The hour I spend each day coming to work before the bell rings is time I spend: planning lessons for the following week. I tutor struggling students on my lunch "break" and after school. Then I stay hours after that to change bulletin boards, collect and analyze assessment data, create data reports, plan interventions for students who didn't understand or need special help, analyze the effectiveness of my instruction, plan special activities, display student work, meet with colleagues to discuss student progress and/or instructional strategies, redecorate the room to compliment our next unit of learning, call and/or meet with parents, grade papers and write meaningful comments, and more. I report to work each day at 7am and leave sometime between 5-7pm depending on the day (this is a 10-12 hr work day-5 days per week). Keep in mind, NO lunch BREAK for me, remember? That time is spent tutoring students. If I want to even use the restroom, I must call the office, and then hold my bladder until someone is available to come watch "my kids" so that I can run down the hall to relieve myself. And yes, because of all the other things we have to do, I often still take stacks of papers home with me to grade because it simply can't all get done in the "free" time that those who are ignorant to my profession think I have. During holiday breaks, I spend at least 2-3 days working on end of period grade reports. During summers I research teaching methods, gather materials, and attend trainings. And by the way, in case you didn't know, much of my hard earned money goes into my classroom. I buy school supplies for students who can't afford them, books, office supplies needed to do my job (including paper, pens, markers, scissors, poster board, staplers, pencils, pencil sharpeners-the $80 variety so it has hope of last through the school year, and more), art supplies, miscellaneous objects/materials needed to perform science experiments, stickers, prizes to reward students for good behavior and excellent work, and many other things! Are you, bricklayer, buying your own bricks to lay in someone else's yard?

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  19. All the Holidays and the so called training days, not forgetting all the paid for sick days and on a wage most of us would envy. My heart bleeds for you. Hard done by my arse. Bleat as much as you want , joe public isn't listening, we cant hear you wrapped up in cotton wool in your own little world.IF YOU CANT STAND THE HEAT GET OUT OF THE KITITCHEN..

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    1. Anonymous = coward , lets have your names please if not on the heading then sign the end of your piece. Colin Agnew

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  20. I am now retired. Before teaching I had a few years doing 'real' work so I was not a school - College - School teacher with no life skills. I drove wagons, then went to college, then taught. At the end of term my wife liked me to go out and do a couple of days as an agency driver. In two days driving an articulated wagon I became completely relaxed. If I did not do that it took a week for the stresses of the school to evaporate. Teaching done properly requires massive amounts of mental energy and time, but it is so very rewarding.

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  21. My wife is a teacher. She gets up at 4-45am to get ready for school. She leaves home at 6-30 so as to be ready for when the school opens at 7. As the only teacher in her department she has to plan and prepare all equipment for that day. As for the last half term she had one day relaxing (a Saturday) other than that it was reports all day and every day. Its not out of the ordinary for my wife to get home after 7pm, and more than likely she has an arm full of books which need marking for the next day as required by the Headmaster, Most holidays are like the half term either working at home or in school . I think out of the 6 weeks holiday she did no work for about 5 days the rest you can grasp. Tired, stressed, worried about the next visit from people who think they know better but don't have to stand in front of kids all day, and yes she does think of all the kids as hers .Dedication, determination, and the frame of mind regardless of what the child is like to try and ensure he gets the help he or she needs regardless of the strain on you or your family. That's what teaching is all about.

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    1. I am with you there my friend, my wife taught for 35 years and I can vouch for everything your saying.

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  22. There isn't any hols actually. I would say perhaps about 3 weeks maximum in December only. All throughout the year, regardless of weekdays, weekends or holidays, teachers are working.
    Unless the teacher wants to throw everything aside, rest for a day or 2 then return to see the mountain of work piling up higher than before....

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  23. what on earth is this all about??? ...u r jealous of teachers than go.ahead do.what is necessary and be one, if you r not capable to do.so.just.shut.your mouth.and let people.who.are.to.do.their.job ... after all what they r doing.is taking.care raising.and teaching.your.kids ... and without whom you wouldn't even be.working whatever it is you are working.first.becauae of.lack.of qualifications and sexondly because you would.have to.stay.with.your.own children .... so how about some appreciation ... there that woukd be a good.lesson.for.you!

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  24. Teachers get paid for 1265 hours per year. 1265 divided by 39 weeks (academic year) = 32.4 hours a week. By the sounds of it, teachers work longer hours than that a week. This also means than even though they get 13 weeks 'holiday' a year, they don't actually get paid for it.

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    1. Omg ... stop all the whinging and get back to work, you are wasting so much time writing all this shit! It takes many in different roles to make the world go around.

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    2. At last someone has worked out we don't actually get paid for the holidays. As for the working week I regularly work 60+ hours; I work a 10 hour day at school then around 2 - 3 at home every night, plus the weekends- don't get me started on the extra activities, shows, football matches, concerts, fairs etc. I worked for 10 years before becoming a teacher as a civil servant, for almost the same pay. However as a civil servant for every minute I worked over my 37.5 hours I could take as flexi-time. In fact I was paid for 5 weeks (plus bank holidays and extra days eg Queen's birthday, Maundy Thursday) but could easily build up an additional 5 weeks of flexi. AND I could take the holidays mostly when I wanted (which was outside of school holidays due to the exorbitant cost in school holiday time). yes I had to work some days during the festive period but always got a week off either before or after Christmas. Compare this to the extra 23 hours a week I work on average (going from the civil servants 37.5), I could accrue an additional 3 days per week just on the hours I do at school. Multiply that by the number of school weeks and I would never have to work!!! yes Teachers get a lot of holidays, but I see it as unpaid overtime being repaid in the form of holidays. And based on my calculations I think I earn much less than the minimum wage at this rate. But teachers do their job because they love it; and as previously stated I don't comment on other people's professions, so please don't comment on mine. As far as sickness absence is concerned I have been off 4 times in 20 years (despite having a brain tumour and chronic arthritis). I think you will find the vast majority of teachers care too much about the effect their absence has on the children and their colleagues to have time off (despite being paid when absent). Rant over...

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  25. Okay honestly this is crazy. Take a moment and read my story, cause teachers do not have it hard, AT ALL.

    I taught history for 3 years, the first year was a bit rough as i had to set up all my papers etc, yet the 2nd and 3rd year, its all the same. If you just keep your papers and prepare a bit ahead of the year, there will be absolutely no additional work except for marking papers, which is REALLY not hard after you have it for a few years, so very very easy. I now work as a forensic investigator doing ballistics and let me tell you, that is a tough job.

    A friend of mine taught drawings and autocad at a technical high school. He did it WHILE going to university and finishing his Btech. He still maintains that in his entry level architectural job he has now, he has a ton more work and it is WAY more stressful.

    Funny thing is, at our local BBQ we have every month, here is about 6 teachers. Every single one of them complains about not getting enough time off. The fact of the matter is, they do get more time off than anyone else. Sure, you might be setting up some papers or doing some catch-up marking, but do you REALLY, honestly believe it is harder than architecture, forensics, being a doctor or a surgeon? Less stress? WELL, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU TEACHERS COMPLAIN TOO.

    Sure, you shaped the minds of future generations. I did it, a few other people i know did it. Its not hard, it might be annoying at times, but it is not hard and you work less time than any other profession (Except for part-time jobs).

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    1. Obviously a very uninspiring, boring high school teacher, teaching the same, solitary subject to children working at the same level, using the same boring 'worksheets' year in year out. Where's the fun and creativity in that?! What a boring and tedious way to learn. No wonder you found it so easy...YOU DIDN'T DO IT PROPERLY!!

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    2. Completely agree with the above. I don't know ANY teachers who do this, or ever have done. Maybe that's why you only taught for 3 years. If it was such an easy job why did you leave? Equally your second point about a friend teaching 'drawings and autocad' you can not teach without having a degree and then a PGCE ( or a degree with Qualified Teachers Status). So why isn't he 'teaching' anymore as you call it? A Btech doesn't qualify you to teacher; it's the equivalent of 2 A Levels. Reading your rant I can perhaps understand why you don't teach "WELL, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU TEACHERS COMPLAIN TOO." What does this mean? Teachers aren't complaining about other people's professions or making judgements about how hard they work; they are justifying the discriminating statements that teachers are labelled with - short days; lots of holidays. I regularly get that comment. Well if it's such an easy job why don't people have a go at it and then they will see.

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    3. Glad you weren't my child's teacher. Teaching is not easey and if you are doing it right it is never the same because no class or no child is the same and you are teaching to reach each child at the highest possible level. You truly didn't get it as a teacher and those of us that are proud of this profession are glad people like you left. You are the type that gives it a bad name because you are taking the easy way out. I've taught for 20 plus years and honestly have never heard any teacher complain about not having enough time off. BTW teachers are paid on a contract for 190 days. We are paid for 190 days. We are nott paid for the summer or Christmas/Spring breaks. We just choose to spread our pay for the 190 days out over the whole year.I love my job, but certainly don't bash other professions in this way. This is so sad and depressing.

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    4. It was so easy that you didn't last four years, hmm?

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  26. History is about the past which by definition doesn't change. You were obviously one of those teachers who would use the same material and method of delivery until forced to change! I have had several different careers including being an officer in the army, financial consultant and manager, outdoor centre warden, and teacher of Mathematics. Teaching was by far the most difficult and time consuming. I rarely got to bed before 2.00 am and in my last 3 years worked through the night one night during the week to be absolutely and adequately prepared; this meant being completely happy with the quality of the material and how it would be delivered, preparation of practice exercises for the students to complete and working out and recording answers to enable me to quickly help students who were having difficulties. Preparation for each lesson would take at least 2 hours which for days when 5 lessons were programmed meant at least
    10 hours preparation time at home. Giving presentations at board room level with 2/3 days to research and prepare were easy in comparison. Not all schools are the same in terms of stress levels, particularly in terms of the level of abuse and discord arising between students and often directed at teachers who have to deal with it correctly and appropriately as part of their duty of care. A totally skewed work life balance is the likely reason why 30% of all new young entrants into the profession currently leave within their first 2 years of service. In other words they don't have time for a social life. Finally, just remember all you teacher knockers, without the excellent work and dedication of teachers there would be no doctors, dentists, architects etc or even forensic investigators!

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  27. Perhaps we should show this page to the PM. Then he could address both sides. Good teachers work their arses off and so do people that are skilled or self employed. The country needs to bring back apprenticeships, to cater for those, like me, that are not academic, but have skills, but never ever doubt the input and that GOOD teachers put in. Just to add, I am self employed, and have ran my on business for 25+. Don't tar everyone with the same brush!

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  28. I was going to waste my time trying to explain this in a long and complex way... But then I decided that just saying grow a pair would suffice, I don't shred on what you do so don't be shredding what I do for my own personal reasons. Besides, would you be doing what you are if someone didn't teach you to?

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  29. Tout à fait juste mais on ne compte pas lorsque l'on aime

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  30. I've laid bricks done tiling etc helped knock up a house and yes I am a teacher. All this time off I wish so all teachers work this time off to educate the children they care for. In my opinion get your head out your own lazy arse and welcome into a teachers world of 7 days a week and many hours each of those days mostly unpaid for!!!!

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  31. You forgot:

    1. It's not always "she," there are male teachers too, they're just usually more successful and better paid than the female teachers;

    2. They will talk down to you as if you are a ten year old;

    3. If you are not doing something you were expected to do, you will be scolded in the form of a question, such as, "Do you really think that's a good decision?";

    4. You will constantly hear about how underpaid they are despite their hourly pay rate working out closer to that of an attorney than that of a fast food worker after summers off of work are considered;

    5. You will constantly be subjected to music and literature more suited to "tweens" than adults;

    6. Their students will mistake them for being smart because they teach, even though most teachers are barely more educated than those who have passed the G.E.D.;

    7. You will hear about petty squabbles at work that seem more fit for a sorority house than a professional workplace;

    8. There's a 50/50 chance they were screwing one of their students.

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    1. Oh dear, Red Mieni... Where to start?

      1. I can't speak for the US but here in the UK, the profession is pretty balanced between the sexes - the number of women teachers in senior, better paid posts is ever increasing. There are eight schools and an FE college in my town: seven headmistresses and one female Principal; one headmaster. That covers the "better paid" part of your point; I'm guessing you think it covers the "more successful" part too. I don't. "Success" in teaching isn't about getting to be a Headteacher - it's about teaching well.

      2. Teachers treat you like a ten-year-old? Well, if the cap fits...

      3. Divide your page into two columns, In the first column note the ways point 3 is the same as point 2. In the second column, note the ways point 3 is different to point 2. Comparing your two columns, do you think the author was trying to make the same point or different points? How might you improve this section of the text?

      4. Last year I kept a log of the hours I worked. Not just with the children or at my desk during the day, but late nights, early mornings, weekends, hours and days at a time during those "summers off of work." Divided my salary by the total. How many attorneys or fast food workers do you know who earn less than the minimum hourly wage?

      5. Sounds to me like that's more to do with your partner's personal taste than her profession.

      6. Teaching in the UK is a graduate profession.

      7. Because nobody else ever talks about problems at work and everybody else's problems are juvenile "petty squabbles" whereas our own problems are always serious, mature issues? Seriously - just stop and listen to yourself next time you're telling your partner about your really important work issues and then wonder just how much your work place is less of a sorority house. Listening to my husband's "petty squabbles at work" take me right back to your points 2 and 3.

      8. I'm sorry your maths teacher didn't make a better job of teaching you probability. 50/50? In your dreams, dear. I've known teachers have affairs with colleagues, parents and colleague's partners, but with pupils? Nothing LIKE 50/50. It's more likely that teacher's partners are "screwing" their colleagues / clients / secretaries than teachers are "screwing" their pupils. If you feel THAT threatened by your partner's 15-year-old pupils, maybe you need to seek some form of counselling?

      On the whole, a fair attempt. C for effort; D for attainment.

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    2. Who TAUGHT you how to lay bricks? Who TAUGHT you how to pick up a bin? Who TAUGHT you how to sign your check after you laid bricks and picked up a bin?

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  32. Teachers make all the other professions possible. Period!

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  33. Why are there so many "anonymous" posters????????? Don't want to stand with your statements??? Very sad............As a teacher for 40 years, I found all these on the list QUITE true for elementary teachers........less true for middle school teachers..........and only a very little true for high school teachers (and I have been all three.) Moderation is the key. With increased responsibilities and less respect as the years go forward, it is going to be more and more difficult to get dedicated people who will work so hard. This piece was obviously a humorous look at the life of a very creative and dedicated teacher. I'm sure it showed some issues that those outside of the profession hadn't thought of, as being a "student' is not even close to being a "teacher" as far a responsibilities .........and being a "student" is what most posters know about being a "teacher"............do you know what it is like to be "dentist" by merely being a "patient"? I don't think so. Yes, it is WONDERFUL to know which days you will have off. EVERY job should have these and we should all work together to better the working conditions of all workers, not put down those whose meager benefits include holidays and sick days. EVERY worker deserves them. Get political and work for the good of the middle class workers.............negative remarks don't help anyone. And, yes, teachers should network with those outside of their profession to better understand the frustrations of other jobs where you go home just as exhausted and don't get holidays off, I agree. I have had both and think the best approach is to support EVERYONE'S efforts to provide for their families.

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  34. Why are there so many "anonymous" posters????????? Don't want to stand with your statements??? Very sad............As a teacher for 40 years, I found all these on the list QUITE true for elementary teachers........less true for middle school teachers..........and only a very little true for high school teachers (and I have been all three.) Moderation is the key. With increased responsibilities and less respect as the years go forward, it is going to be more and more difficult to get dedicated people who will work so hard. This piece was obviously a humorous look at the life of a very creative and dedicated teacher. I'm sure it showed some issues that those outside of the profession hadn't thought of, as being a "student' is not even close to being a "teacher" as far a responsibilities .........and being a "student" is what most posters know about being a "teacher"............do you know what it is like to be "dentist" by merely being a "patient"? I don't think so. Yes, it is WONDERFUL to know which days you will have off. EVERY job should have these and we should all work together to better the working conditions of all workers, not put down those whose meager benefits include holidays and sick days. EVERY worker deserves them. Get political and work for the good of the middle class workers.............negative remarks don't help anyone. And, yes, teachers should network with those outside of their profession to better understand the frustrations of other jobs where you go home just as exhausted and don't get holidays off, I agree. I have had both and think the best approach is to support EVERYONE'S efforts to provide for their families.

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  35. Your right, teaching is an awesome job. I love my job, love my students and love my time off. These are all reason I worked so hard to get into teaching. I have had a lot of jobs I hated, like construction, mechanic, etc.. I wont deny that I find teaching to be easier for me than the other careers I have had. Manual Labor was not my gig, just like corprate positions also do not agree with me. I foound my niche in education. I excell at it and I love it. That does not mean that it would be easy for everyone. Stand proud teachers, you don't need to defend your positions. Your job is fantastic and worthy of every perk you recieve. Bricklayers are highly skilled, creative, hard laboring individuals who deserve much respect. Good bricklayers are good bricklayers because they are bricklayers to the bone. That is also why they are not teachers. Good teachers are good teachers because they are teachers to the bone and that is why they are not bricklayers.

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  36. This whole bricklayer vs teacher thing is cracking me. I used to lay brick foundations for new construction and I hated it. I became a teacher and I love it. A guy I taught with hated teaching so he quit mid year, after 5 years of teaching and became a bricklayer (patios walkways etc...) and he loves doing that.

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  37. All True, from someone who is married to a teacher, retired officially but never in reality. Once a teacher, always a teacher, Thank God!

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  38. Anyone else seeing the blatant sexism in the original post? Why do teachers have to be female?

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    1. I didn't say that teachers have to be female. I could just have easily called this post "10 reasons NOT to date a guy who teaches." I don't think there's anything sexist about it!

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  39. This is silly! I'm from the Midwest. Bricklayers don't work year round either. My grandfather was a bricklayer. He loved it, worked his butt off, and was well respected. He never felt the need to disrespect anyone else's job. He wasn't an insecure man. He's now 90. He will tell you he doesn't know how teachers do it nowadays. Yes, his job was physically demanding. Mine is mentally challenging. Teachers aren't just bricklayers. We build the whole house starting with the foundation! I'm proud of who my grandfather is, which is nothing like a whining jealous man this so called bricklayer is. Imagine if that's his attitude with his own work. By the way, not only are we not paid for time off, but to think a teacher's pay is close to an attorney's is a joke. In most places a newly hired teacher's salary can qualify her or him for food stamps! Remember Mr. Bricklayer, there have been teachers who have shielded their students' bodies from bullets. Your bricks meant nothing to anyone then. You can't compare. Try not to be so bitter.

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  40. Surprise surprise, wouldn't post my comments. Teachers are a bunch of self absorbed jerry bags who go about with their bloated heads up their own arse. Post that!

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    1. As you're posting anonymously, I can't be sure what your previous attempted comments are. There are only three comments that I didn't publish which were just name-calling and nothing else. They wouldn't have added anything to this discussion. If anything, I saved you from sharing pointless and immature trolling!

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  41. Yes, teaching is hard work, that´s absolutely true. And in Germany where I am teaching, the same is true. Before becoming a teacher I worked in public relations which is not an easy work. But still it´s nothing against the work I have to do now. The main difference is: one hour in a class with 20-25 pupils takes much much much more energy than sitting in front of a computer, answering some questions on phone, organizing some things in mostly rather quiet and relaxed athmospere or having some conferences, writing emails etc. At about 6-7-8 o´clock this work is done but not the preparations of a teacher not to mention these "corrections" (? right word?) all the time...

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  42. Fantastic - no 10 is happening more and more in situations where I can't run away!

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